Nooch News

If you have been reading The VeganAsana for any period of time, you have probably noticed that my recipes often contain nutritional yeast. I use it in so many things that I buy it in large containers and keep a shaker on the table.

So, if you are not a “nooch” (a little nickname it has developed) user, here’s the scoop.

Nutritional yeast is a fungi (Saccharomyces Cervisiae) that grows on molasses and then is processed and dried and sold in flake or powder form. Because it is a fungi, like mushrooms, it is a vegan food.

Nooch is not like baking yeast or brewer’s yeast. It won’t help your cinnamon buns rise or give you a great start on that home-brewed pale ale.

I mostly use nooch because it tastes so good. It has an umami flavor, sort of like something between nuts and cheese. It pairs well with many foods and imparts a bit of a creamy taste in recipes, as well as being a credible substitute for parmesan cheese.

While I like it mostly because it’s delicious, it’s also nutritious (though the amounts you’ll likely consume at one time are pretty small). Nooch naturally contains most of the B-complex vitamins, except B-12, selenium, and potassium. It is a complete protein. Most brands of nutritional yeast are also fortified with B-12, making it a full compliment of the Bs.